Food Courts: New Trends

Many food court outlets also offer prepackaged items such as sandwiches or salads for ready sale. This is a practice borrowed from other venues where the food court has taken hold. Airports, train stations, colleges, hospitals, and others have embraced the food court as a concept even when all of the items are prepared in house or are from the same vendor. College cafeterias often have a food court model and the “stations” found at catered events may even be read as an amalgamation of the food court. This hybridity has helped ensure that Americans are familiar with the protocols and cuisine of mass market and fast food choices wherever they may encounter them. Arguably, the food court also operates without distinction to class, race, gender, or age, although exceptions certainly existed and do exist. The food court presents a sanitized version of cuisine, but it may also represent an entry point for individuals who may go on to additional experimentation or more sophisticated food learning. The food court also serves as a controlled social environment, a safe or contained meeting place where people can temporarily congregate.